WHERE: Red & Charline McCombs Field -- Austin, TX
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KATY TIGERS
The long-anticipated breakthrough has arrived for Katy (38-5). In just her second season as head coach, Meghan VanEtta has guided the Tigers back to the pinnacle of Texas high school softball, as the ballclub now prepares to compete in its first UIL State Championship since 2019.
VanEtta (formerly Meghan Burrell) is no stranger to the standard Katy carries year after year. Before taking over the program, she spent 12 seasons as an assistant under Kalum Haack and was part of the Tigers’ 2015 and 2019 title-winning squads along the way.
While Austin had long been viewed as the destination entering the season, the possibility of bringing home a third state trophy truly began to crystallize after Katy swept defending 6A Division II champion Kingwood in the third round of the playoffs.
From there, the Tigers handled business against Clear Creek in the Region III Final before securing another hard-fought sweep over Pharr-San Juan-Alamo in last week’s State Semifinal series.
It’s no secret where Katy’s firepower originates. The “Death Valley” portion of the batting order—seniors Ella Kate “EK” Smith (Oklahoma signee) and Maddie Smith (NC State), alongside junior Auburn commit Evie Willemssen—is formidable enough on its own.
Add in the veteran presence of senior outfielder Lexie Waugh (UT Arlington), along with the emergence of freshman pitcher Haley Schmitt (16-1 in 2026) and sophomore second baseman Nevaeh Phillips, and this Tigers squad looks destined to make history on Saturday.
Some of the stars of 2025-26 Katy Tigers SoftballBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
FORNEY JACKRABBITS
From one established state power to another, Forney returns to the 6A Division II title game for the second year in a row. Since assuming command of the program prior to the 2016-17 campaign, head coach Pat Eitel has guided the Jackrabbits to four UIL State Tournament appearances, with last week’s impressive sweep of Guyer also marking the seventh trip in school history.
Needless to say, Forney (37-3) is operating at full throttle and now sits one victory away from adding a second state banner to the trophy case alongside the one secured in 2018, when the team competed at the 5A level.
The Jackrabbits boast the luxury of not one, but two ace-caliber arms in their pitching staff, namely sophomore Avery Pitts and junior Emmie Santos. Pitts has pieced together a phenomenal 20-1 record while piling up well over 200 strikeouts in the circle, while Santos—an Eastern Kentucky commit—stands at 17-2 and has also made her presence felt at the plate, hitting .316.
On the batting side, shortstop Carlee Rabal and outfielder Bailee McGhee pair reliability with big-play potential, as the sophomore duo is hitting .448 and .416 at the plate, respectively. The same can be said for sophomore Sophia Heredia, who is batting just under .400 while stepping up in the catcher role.
WHERE: Red & Charline McCombs Field -- Austin, TX
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PEARLAND OILERS
They’re back! Just three years into Michele Hyden’s tenure as head coach, Pearland (37-6) has returned to McCombs Field with hopes of capturing state crown No. 4—and the program’s first since Laneigh Clark’s swan-song season in 2023.
Though the Lady Oilers had overpowered most opponents up to that point, they were undoubtedly tested in last week’s semifinal series against Buda Johnson. After dropping Game 1, 7-1, Pearland responded emphatically with wins of 9-1 and 8-2 in Games 2 and 3—a dramatic turnaround that should provide the team with plenty of momentum entering Saturday’s matchup.
Beyond the infectious energy the squad generates, Pearland’s suffocating defense has often been its greatest strength. That effort begins with reigning 22-6A Pitcher of the Year Madelyn Guzman, a senior Temple College signee who has compiled an astounding 27-3 record this spring.
Meanwhile, the batting order has proven virtually impossible to contain, fueled by the relentless production of senior standouts Payton Shugart (Texas State), Layla Bennett (UCF), Payton Powell (Blinn College), Anison Lopez (Grayson College), and Elaina Njus (LSU Eunice).
The Lady Oilers pose following their 8-0 victory against Cy-Fair in the Region III Final (5/14/2026)Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
MIDWAY PANTHERS
An undeniable perennial powerhouse in Texas, Midway (35-5-1) finds itself back on the same stage it occupied a year ago, when head coach Jordan Williams and company collected the 6A Division I trophy. Now making its third consecutive appearance in the UIL title game, the defending champs enter with ambitions of not only repeating, but—like their opponent Pearland—bringing home a fourth state banner overall.
Junior Peyton Phillipp remains the focal point of the Panthers’ operation, as the Baylor commit has followed up last season’s 6A D1 State Tournament MVP honor with a remarkable 27-3 mark this spring. She’s also hitting well over .400 at the plate, underscoring her ability to impact the game in every phase for Midway.
Perhaps the most dangerous bat in Williams’ lineup is senior outfielder Camryn Carter, a Northwestern State signee who is hitting just under .500 while also posting a 5-0 record as a left-handed pitcher when needed. The batting order is further bolstered by senior second baseman Amaya Locke (Nelson University), along with junior catcher Lilly Davis and junior shortstop Kallei Alvarado.
The Midway Panthers win the 2025 UIL 6A Division 1 State Championship with a 9-1 win against Clear Springs (5/31/2025)Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
WHERE: Red & Charline McCombs Field -- Austin, TX
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LAKE CREEK LIONS
Evidently, Lake Creek has come to treat McCombs Field as a figurative home away from home. Once again, as May winds down, the Lions find themselves gearing up to compete for another gold trophy.
Not even lightning delays in their recent series against Liberty Hill could slow what felt inevitable, as Lake Creek completed the sweep with an 8-7 win on Saturday after taking Game 1, 9-4, in an 11-inning thriller last Wednesday. The series not only pushed LCHS to a remarkable 39-1 record, but also showed the Lions can win in a variety of ways—not just through their usual brand of dominance.
Now, head coach Candyce Carter and her staff have Lake Creek on the brink of not only repeating, but capturing the program’s fourth state crown in just five seasons.
Lake Creek Sr. RHP Sara Wiggins prepares for a pitch against district rival Montgomery Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Wichita State-bound pitcher Sara Wiggins is still very much her—a reality underscored by a perfect 32-0 mark in her senior campaign. Meanwhile, the Lake Creek lineup continues to overwhelm, averaging roughly 10 runs per game against opposing pitching staffs.
Between the collective threat of senior Madalyn Davis (North Carolina signee), juniors Annelise Torres and Maci Nowak, and seniors Miranda Orso (McLennan), Laney Galloway (McNeese State), Abby Estay (LSU Eunice), Gracee Brewer (McNeese State), and Addie Davis (UT Tyler), there’s virtually no point at which the lineup lets up.
2025-26 Lake Creek SoftballDana Strange (VYPE)
BREWER BEARS
One of the more enthralling developments of the spring has come out of Fort Worth, where Brewer made its UIL State Tournament debut a week ago. Under head coach Josh Richards, the Lady Bears extended their unprecedented postseason run by decisively sweeping Hallsville, sending a milestone year for White Settlement ISD all the way to Austin.
Brewer (27-9) has flourished despite being underestimated by opponents, leaning on one another and limiting mistakes while staying locked in on the task at hand—traits that have made the Bears a formidable force.
Equally impressive is that this success has come with a comparatively young lineup. While junior Haylie Jimenez (.445 BA, 45 RBI) and seniors Kamren Pride (.370 BA, 36 RBI) and Samantha Aguirre (.410 BA, 34 RBI) have provided a steady veteran presence, sophomore Avery Welch leads the team with an impressive 56 RBIs, while freshman Ava Peña is almost a sure bet to reach base, hitting .531 at the plate.
Continuing the trend of youth-driven contributions and collective effort, the bullpen features sophomores Sylver Orebaugh (10-4) and Cozy Tyson (8-1)—who is equally impactful in the batter’s box—as well as freshman Ella Glover when called upon.
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